lips and teeth; fig. closely related and interdependent parties
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
lips and teeth; fig. two parties that are close and share common interests
literaryOften used metaphorically to describe close, interdependent relationships, as in the idiom 唇齿相依.
Zhè这
liǎng两
gè个
guó国
jiā家
hù互
wéi为
chún唇
chǐ齿
，
xiū休
qī戚
xiāng相
guān关
。
These two countries are interdependent like lips and teeth, sharing weal and woe.
Chún唇
chǐ齿
xiāng相
yī依
，
chún唇
wáng亡
chǐ齿
hán寒
。
Lips and teeth depend on each other; if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.
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Tā他
men们
liǎng两
jiā家
qǐ企
yè业
hù互
wéi为
chún唇
chǐ齿
，
yī一
róng荣
jù俱
róng荣
，
yī一
sǔn损
jù俱
sǔn损
。
Their two enterprises are interdependent like lips and teeth; when one prospers, both prosper, and when one suffers, both suffer.